London Philharmonic Orchestra 2026/27 season brochure - Eastbourne Congress Theatre

2026/27 concert season at

Hello Eastbourne!

In a world full of noise, we invite you to pause, be fully present, and experience The Power of Listening. We’re thrilled to return to the Congress Theatre with another season of music that moves, uplifts and connects us all.

This year’s concerts take us on journeys of discovery and delight – from the vivid storytelling of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and the sunlit joy of Brahms’s Second Symphony to the passion and lyricism of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. As well as celebrated soloists like Ning Feng, Laura van der Heijden and Felix Klieser, we’re proud to champion a new generation of exciting artists – many making their UK or LPO debuts – as well as showcasing the talents of some of our own members, stepping into the spotlight as soloists. Every performance o ers a chance to listen more deeply and share in the thrill of live orchestral sound.

David Burke Chief Executive

Jesús Herrera Artistic Director

Beyond the concert stage, we’re proud to be part of the Eastbourne community. Through our partnership with the Sussex Music Hub, we’re inspiring the next generation, from free foyer performances and BrightSparks schools concerts to Overture Days for young musicians during the school holidays. You might spot our musicians bringing music to local groups such as the Eastbourne Talking Newspaper, the Latch On mum and baby group, and the Beachy Head Ambassadors.

Music has a way of bringing people together – to listen, re ect and belong. We can’t wait to share it with you this season.

Scheherazade

Glinka Overture, Ruslan and Ludmilla (5’) Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (34’) Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade (47’)

Tom Fetherstonhaugh conductor

Ning Feng violin

A wicked sultan, a courageous princess, and a thousand and one nights of pleasure: there’s no doubt that Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade is one of classical music’s most sensuous treats. Today, with the dynamic young conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh, it’s the climax of a concert packed with musical fairytales – from Glinka’s swashbuckling overture to the real-life marvel that is violinist Ning Feng. ‘The more you listen, the more you want to listen’, wrote one critic, and his performance of Tchaikovsky’s thrilling Violin Concerto is the warm heart of a concert filled with wonders. Hearing is believing …

Brahms’s Second

Beethoven Overture, Leonore No. 3 (13’)

Neruda Trumpet Concerto (15’)

Brahms Symphony No. 2 (39’)

Adam Hickox conductor

Tom Nielsen trumpet

A political prisoner lies chained in his cell. But someone has remembered his plight – and in Beethoven’s Leonore Overture a whole drama of tyranny, freedom and courage plays out in some of the most thrilling sounds ever written for an orchestra. And that’s just the start of today’s adventure. There are fireworks from the LPO’s own Principal Trumpet Tom Nielsen, before conductor Adam Hickox whirls us away to the sun-kissed slopes of Brahms’s gorgeous Second Symphony. Written on holiday in the Austrian Alps and filled with lullabies and waltzes, this is music as bottled happiness: a taste of summer for these grey November days.

Pre-concert event, 2.15pm

Enjoy the sound of local young talent, as musicians from Create Music give a special free performance in the Congress Theatre foyer. Create Music is part of Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival and the Hub Lead Organisation for the Sussex Music Hub.

Sibelius’s Fifth

Copland Appalachian Spring: Suite (23’)

Errollyn Wallen Cello Concerto (15)

Liadov The Enchanted Lake (6’)

Sibelius Symphony No. 5 (30’)

Enyi Okpara* conductor

Laura van der Heijden cello

‘What beauty!’ declared Sibelius when he saw a flight of wild swans, and the melody they suggested to him is the kind of tune that comes once in a lifetime. But that’s just the climax of his epic Fifth Symphony –part of a concert filled with the energy and promise of spring. LPO Fellow Conductor Enyi Okpara – a true rising star – begins with the open spaces and big, fresh tunes of Copland’s great American ballet, before summoning shimmering magic from Liadov’s Enchanted Lake. And cellist Laura van der Heijden plays a rapturous new classic by the Master of the King’s Music, Errollyn Wallen.

*LPO Fellow Conductor 2026/27.

‘An orchestra at its blazing best.’ The

Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony

Fanny Mendelssohn Overture (10’)

Spohr Clarinet Concerto No. 4 (27’)

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) (40’)

Shira Samuels-Shragg* conductor Benjamin Mellefont** clarinet

They called them the Romantic generation: composers who let their imaginations run wild, painting landscapes in sound and revelling in untamed emotions, daredevil feats, and (of course) love. That’s the story we’re telling today, as brother-and-sister geniuses Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn stretch their creative wings, and take a tuneful tour of the Highlands in Felix’s stirring ‘Scottish’ Symphony. And then LPO Fellow Conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg and Principal Clarinet Benjamin Mellefont rediscover the music of Louis Spohr. Contemporaries thought he was up there with Beethoven, and you’re about to hear why. A Valentine’s concert with a marvellously classy difference.

*LPO Fellow Conductor 2026/27.

**LPO chair supported by Sir Nigel Boardman & Prof. Lynda Gratton.

Alpesh Chauhan conducts Schumann

Felix Mendelssohn Overture, Ruy Blas (7’)

Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 (23’)

R Schumann Symphony No. 3 (31’)

Alpesh Chauhan conductor

Sophia Liu* piano

Schumann’s ‘Rhenish’ Symphony opens in a blaze of glory, and ends at a wine festival! In between comes a guided tour of Cologne Cathedral, all drenched in Schumann’s trademark poetry and warmth. There’s no more tuneful way to take a holiday in the Rhineland (and you don’t even have to leave your seat). First, though, Mendelssohn goes Gothic in a dark and stormy overture, and guest conductor Alpesh Chauhan joins the ‘phenomenal’ (Bachtrack) Sophia Liu in a sparkling French showpiece. This award-winning young star is already causing quite a stir, and she’s the perfect soloist for Saint-Saëns’s champagne cocktail of a concerto.

Alexandra Jupin Award recipient.

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth

Bacewicz Overture (6’)

R Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1 (16’)

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 (47’)

Delyana Lazarova conductor

Felix Klieser horn

‘With desire and passion’, wrote Tchaikovsky on the score of his Fifth Symphony, and he meant it. All of his genius for melody went into this sweeping sonic autobiography –a musical journey from sorrow to joy, told in tunes that burn themselves into your heart. No such worries for the teenage Richard Strauss: after all, when your dad’s the world’s greatest horn player, writing a horn concerto is the ultimate bit of family fun. Expect wit, poetry and pure high spirits as conductor Delyana Lazarova joins forces with the incredible Felix Klieser – a horn player who’s become a byword for inspiration.

Connected by Music

In addition to our Sunday concerts at the Congress Theatre, we’re thrilled to partner with local communities to share in the power of music to connect, inspire and delight, through performances, workshops, training and more.

Partnering with the Sussex Music Hub, this season we’re offering exciting musical opportunities for young people in Eastbourne and beyond. From unique experiences on our concert days to engaging, free LPO Overture days during school holidays, young musicians have the chance to connect with LPO players, refine their skills, and perform for their families and friends.

We’re looking forward to bringing our popular BrightSparks schools’ concert to the Congress Theatre once again this season, offering children aged 7–11 the unforgettable experience of hearing a full orchestra live and up close. With free resources and training for teachers and creative projects in local primary schools, we’re dedicated to nurturing a love for music from an early age. One 8-year-old Eastbourne pupil who attended last year told us: ‘I haven’t seen an orchestra before, I mean I have on YouTube but never a live one. I was on the edge of my seat!’

As well as working with children and young people, we’re continuing to build connections with local organisations, bringing music into the heart of communities. We are also proud to support the Eastbourne Talking Newspaper

& Trust, offering performances and providing musical snippets to enrich the listening experience for visually impaired audiences. We’re planning to work with Latch On at Langney Community Centre, offering new mums and babies a moment of respite through the calming power of classical music. In addition, our partnership with the Beachy Head Ambassadors allows us to support their work in the area by creating fun, uplifting musical experiences in nature. We’re excited to be expanding our South Coast community work as far west as Bognor Regis and east into Dover, continuing our commitment to supporting local people and communities to create their own lasting legacies through music.

We’re keen to do more in and around Eastbourne and beyond, so if you know of a community organisation that could benefit from working with us, or if you’d like to get involved, let’s explore possibilities together. Contact Claudia Clarkson, our Regional Partnerships Manager, at claudia.clarkson@lpo.org.uk

The London Philharmonic Orchestra’s activities with South Coast communities are generously supported by Garfield Weston Foundation and TIOC Foundation. We would also like to thank those individuals who gave to our South Coast Appeal.

We are proud of our history and connection with local South Coast communities and and are striving to bring joy, connection and inspiration to even more people through the power of listening.

Make a donation and help us share unforgettable musical experiences more widely.

From captivating concerts at the Congress Theatre to transformative music projects across the South Coast, your support will make a di erence and have a lasting impact.

To support 020 7840 4212 development@lpo.org.uk lpo.org.uk/support

LPO Label online store

Browse over 140 albums available for purchase on our LPO Label online store.

Whether you’re a CD & LP collector or an audiophile wanting high-resolution downloads, we’ve got you covered!

lpo.ochre.store

Join YolanDa Brown and LPO players in Pitch me Classical, the podcast that tackles classical music’s most-asked questions. Find us on your favourite podcast app.

Classical Pitch me

How to book

Congress Theatre Venue

Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4BP

Congress Theatre Ticket Office & Correspondence

01323 412000

Monday to Saturday 9am–5pm Sunday 10am–4pm

Welcome Building, Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4BW

Book online eastbournetheatres.co.uk

Tickets £17.50–£32.50

Premium seats £37.50

Students £8 (excludes premium seats)

Under 16s £6.50 (excludes premium seats)

Inclusive of booking fees

Book more, pay less: series discounts

– 10% discount for 3 concerts

– 15% discount for 4 concerts

– 20% discount for 5 concerts

– 25% discount for 6 concerts

Group discounts: Bring friends – save money!

– Groups of 10 or more will receive a 20% discount on ticket prices

– Groups of 20 or more will receive a 20% discount as well as an extra complimentary ticket for the group organiser.

Please call or visit Congress Theatre Ticket Office for details. Please note that offers cannot be combined.

How to pay

Tickets can be paid for by cash or credit/debit card. There is a £2 booking fee for each ticket purchased. This is included in the advertised ticket prices. There is a £2 charge for postage. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.

Access

We want everybody to enjoy their visit and offer a range of facilities for patrons with disabilities and their companions, and also to those who may need support in attending our events. Please ensure you notify us of any special requirements when booking, so we can ensure you are offered the most appropriate seats.

Wheelchair users

The Congress Theatre has several specially designed seat positions as well as wheelchairaccessible toilets. A companion may be admitted free of charge, via the essential companion scheme. Please ask the Ticket Office for further details.

Hearing impaired customers

There is an infra-red assisted hearing system and induction loop system at Congress Theatre. Headphones and neck loops can be requested from the Duty Manager prior to the performance. They can also check that your hearing aid is compatible with this system.

Visually impaired customers

Guide dogs are welcome. Printed materials are available in large print on request from the London Philharmonic Orchestra Marketing Department on 020 7840 4200

Public transport

Eastbourne Station is a 10–15 minute walk away, with fast, regular services to Eastbourne from Hastings, Lewes, Brighton, Haywards Heath, London and elsewhere. To book tickets and for travel updates visit southernrailway.com or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950

There is a frequent bus service from all areas of the city. Visit stagecoachbus.co.uk or call Traveline on 0871 200 2233 for details.

Parking

Disabled parking is available on the roads around the Congress Theatre and directly in front of the Devonshire Park Theatre. Patrons may also be dropped off and collected from this point. Disabled parking spaces and Pay and display parking is available in College Road Car Park.

How to find us

The venue is situated close to Eastbourne seafront and a short distance from the town centre. We are just 45 minutes from Brighton, 30 minutes from Hastings and Bexhill and 60 minutes from Tunbridge Wells.

in this brochure was correct at the time of going to press. The right is reserved to substitute artists and to vary programmes if necessary. The London Philharmonic Orchestra is a registered charity No. 238045. The Congress Theatre is a registered charity No.274697. The paper used for all LPO brochures and concert programmes has been sourced from responsibly managed forests, certified in accordance with the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council). It is also Carbon Balanced, meaning the carbon impact of its production is offset by the World Land Trust through the purchase and preservation of ecologically important forestry under imminent threat of clearance.

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